Dozens of Republicans, including some members of leadership, barged into the secure hearing room in the Capitol basement where Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, was set to provide private testimony. GOP lawmakers have argued that other lawmakers, not just members of the three committees leading the probe, should be able to attend the closed-door hearings with witnesses.

Several lawmakers said that, in response to the Republican protest, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) had left the room with Cooper, postponing the interview indefinitely.

Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said Schiff said "nothing" when the members sat down before he left with Cooper.

"He doesn't have the guts to come talk to us," Marshall said. "He left, he just got up and left. He doesn't have the guts to tell us why we can’t come in the room, why he doesn't want this to be transparent. It's the biggest facade, biggest farce of my life."

The two sides were still trying to work through the standoff by mid-morning, with Republicans who do not sit on the committees leading the inquiry refusing to leave the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) in the basement of the Capitol and Democrats insisting those lawmakers had no right to be there.

...

Republicans said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) was threatening GOP lawmakers with ethics violations. Schiff was also consulting with the House's sergeant at arms.

So, batten down for some over-the-top partisan spin from Politico:

The GOP-led stunt, led by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), comes as President Donald Trump has demanded that Republicans "get tough and fight" for him in the impeachment probe. But Republicans have struggled to defend Trump on the substance of the allegations against him, and have instead focused on hammering Democrats over what they see as an illegitimate impeachment process.

Storming in and mostly out of places has been a standard congressional Democrat play for about 30 years -- and liberal media outfits like Politico have always called this tactic a "protest," not a stunt.

Now it's a stunt, and Republicans are seizing and/or pouncing on a complete absence of due process.

WATCH: here's the video of when 2 dozen GOP members, led by @mattgaetz entered the secure hearing room (SCIF) to interrupt witness testimony in the #ImpeachmentInquiry as they demand access, despite not being committee members. They're complaining it's a "Soviet-style process". pic.twitter.com/8KddYz3r9D

BREAKING: Matt Gaetz and 30 House GOP members have stormed a secure hearing room where Adam Schiff was trying to keep impeachment proceedings against President Trump

@RepByrne

Adam Schiff just SHUT DOWN his secret underground impeachment hearing after I led a group of Republicans into the room. Now he's threatening me with an Ethics complaint! I'm on the Armed Services Cmte but being blocked from the Dept. Asst. SecDef's testimony. This is a SHAM!

But Republicans have struggled to defend Trump on the substance of the allegations against him, and have instead focused on hammering Democrats over what they see as an illegitimate impeachment process.

I mean, how do you defend against something that doesn't exist? The "allegations" have no substance.

Posted by: Flyguy at October 23, 2019 01:11 PM (3sOO0)

13
On Twitter.. a bunch of GOP House members are describing is thusly:

37Storming in and mostly out of places has been a standard congressional Democrat play for about 30 years -- and liberal media outfits like Politico have always called this tactic a "protest," not a stunt.

When they do it it's "speaking truth to power" or some other nonsensical expression.

54
Good on them for finally doing something. Seriously. Good on the Republicans who did this.

Positive reinforcement is good.

Also Rush has been absolutely on fire the last few days about the GOP refusing to defend Trump and refusing to attack the Dems. I don't think I've ever heard him this angry.
Posted by: alexthechick - Ragebunny. Hopping all around. at October 23, 2019 01:15 PM

59But Republicans have struggled to defend Trump on the substance of the
allegations against him, and have instead focused on hammering Democrats
over what they see as an illegitimate impeachment process.

Yeah, you feckless twits, bleating about process and fairness should absolutely do it. That's what the average person cares about.

Posted by: pep at October 23, 2019 01:16 PM (T6t7i)

60
So, did some Repubs find their spines, or is this just some theater so they can get re-elected by their Trump-supporting electorates?

77
It is astounding that the two narratives no longer seem to be in the same universe - in one, the impeachment game is falling apart, in the other, Impeachment is going to happen any day now and McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate are going along with it. (every lefty is messaging and tweeting that)

I don't think I've ever seen a total break in the perception of events this great before, ever in my life. Not on this scale.

My gut feeling is that the rapid vindication of Trump in Syria is going to take the fire out of a lot of his Senate critics. They were all amazingly upset about that.

"Will the House Republican leadership discipline these members for security violations, especially those who used cell phones in a SCIF?"

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at October 23, 2019 01:17 PM

Are you shitting me? Bill. Wonder why you drove the Weakly Standud into the ground? Yea, there you go you epic pile of shit. Now go clean up your wife bitch. I can say bitch because I am not in WA.

Posted by: Minnfidel at October 23, 2019 01:19 PM (0W3mK)

85
42
Good on them for finally doing something. Seriously. Good on the Republicans who did this.

Positive reinforcement is good.

Also Rush has been absolutely on fire the last few days about the
GOP refusing to defend Trump and refusing to attack the Dems. I don't
think I've ever heard him this angry.

Posted by: alexthechick - Ragebunny. Hopping all around. at October 23, 2019 01:15 PM (mf5HN) Anybody who can rise above the partisan bickering and try to look at what has happened to the political landscape over the last 10+ years see that people who are right-leaning are sick and tired of the limp wristedness of the GOPe. This is how we got Trump. We here all know this. It was perhaps a temper tantrum of the voters, hopefully more of an uprising or revolution. Yet the GOPe still doesn't get it. They seem to want to go back being the party always in the minority, always crying unfair!!!Glad to see Scalise grow a pair and stand up. If only there were a couple hundred more of him.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at October 23, 2019 01:19 PM (N39Ws)

I'm not sure how Congressional SCIF's work but 'storming' them is not possible. More than likely, Security were told they were coming and let them in. There are rules to be followed in regards to access and SCIFs. Yes, 'Congress' and 'rules'. I know, I know.

Posted by: Puddleglum at October 23, 2019 01:19 PM (9wM0H)

91
So if one congress critter shoots another in Congress is that a crime?
Posted by: Puddin Head at October 23, 2019 01:15 PM (H8GoT)

99
There is no impeachment proceeding. An impeachment proceeding begins when the whole House votes to start one. No such vote has taken place. What we're seeing is a fishing expedition and general backdoor shenanigans.

Posted by: joncelli, because somebody had to at October 23, 2019 01:20 PM (RD7QR)

103
I still can't beleive they are trying to impeach over this weak nonsense. It barely registers as a scandal let alone "high crime or misdemeanor". Trump admin wanted new Ukraine govt to help with 2016 investigation, which might involve the Bidens, big fucking deal!

"Will the House Republican leadership discipline these members for security violations, especially those who used cell phones in a SCIF?"

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry

Can you get a signal on your cell phone inside a SCIF?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at October 23, 2019 01:21 PM (aKsyK)

106
When they're all packing with several backup mags, then you can call it storming.

But kudos all the same for a nice little show of solid vertebrae from the GOP for once

Posted by: Warai-otoko at October 23, 2019 01:21 PM (oHR2m)

107
>>>If someone pulled Schiff's head out of his ass would his eyes debug?
Posted by: N.L. Urker, champion of Urkers everywhere at October 23, 2019 01:16 PM (Uu+Jp)

That actually IS his ass. Some creatures are capable of feeding and shitting from one orifice, in this case his assmouth.

Posted by: Max Power at October 23, 2019 01:21 PM (q177U)

108
Storming in and mostly out of places has been a standard congressional Democrat play for about 30 years -- and liberal media outfits like Politico have always called this tactic a "protest," not a stunt.

-----

Yeah, I remember ages ago - during the Clinton impeachment, maybe? - I watched all the Democrats do a big walk-out live on CNN. Dramatic footage of them standing en masse and walking out of the room, then they switched to some outside cameras to show whoever the Dem leader in congress was at the time leading them all out of the building and down some steps to... an empty podium that had conveniently set up with a microphone and was surrounded by news cameras.

Totally #notastunt

Posted by: Cave Johnson at October 23, 2019 01:21 PM (NFn1/)

109
Rush has been on fire for about the last 3 weeks. Some of his best radio.

133
Not supposed to be anything inside the SCIF except what is authorized. Cellphones turned in at the door. As for EMs, that also should be barred. Assuming the SCIF is within specs. But we are talking a basement in Washington DC.

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 23, 2019 01:24 PM (26lyI)

134
Can you get a signal on your cell phone inside a SCIF?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr
.........

One of the GOP members was sending messages to his staffer who was then doing the tweets.. so maybe no cell signal, but maybe wi-fi? dunno..

136
So when does the Military become a factor in this mess? Because this seems to be the way things are headed. Persuasion by Force. Law no longer works in DC.

Posted by: pawn at October 23, 2019 01:24 PM (+LeF+)

137
Nah, bro, Hillary's immigrant housecleaner used to go into Hillary's home SCIF and print out important docs for her to read. He highness couldn't be bothered to do this when she got home.
=========

138Dozens of Republicans, including some members of leadership, barged into the secure hearing room

It was just a few dozen GOP reps only. Kudos to them, but for the House GOP as a whole, nope, nope, still not good enough. Be curious to know which, if any, GOP House squishes refused to join in the protest.

Posted by: Hands at October 23, 2019 01:24 PM (786Ro)

139
It is astounding that the two narratives no longer seem to be in the same universe - in one, the impeachment game is falling apart, in the other, Impeachment is going to happen any day now and McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate are going along with it. (every lefty is messaging and tweeting that)

I don't think I've ever seen a total break in the perception of events this great before, ever in my life. Not on this scale.

--------

Hell, I have the same break - inside my own brain.

I can't figure out if House Dems are even serious about this ridiculous bullshit.

But if they are... I have no confidence in Senate GOP.

The whole thing is just a chaotic maelstrom, and anyone who isn't on the inside of the Congressional swamp knows what's up.

Everything is just pure speculation by Twittiots.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 23, 2019 01:25 PM (qAM1p)

140
Obviously Schiff was coaching the witness. It would be unfair for Republican's to get a preview.

Posted by: These fish sticks are hard as tits at October 23, 2019 01:25 PM (1L9V9)

141Storming in and mostly out of places has been a standard congressional
Democrat play for about 30 years -- and liberal media outfits like
Politico have always called this tactic a "protest," not a stunt.

To prove to the Democrats activists its not a stunt, GOPers should wear black clothes, masks, and beat the crap out of Schiff as he tries to get away. That's how the MSM knows it is a legitimate protest.

If we had Muldoon still, we could get a full Dr. Seuss treatment of Schiff in a SCIF.

Posted by: t-bird at October 23, 2019 01:25 PM (g0Lfb)

143
OT: More good news from Canada. Syrian (rich family) refugee who helped assault the old woman using the walker to cross the street to attend a conservative speaking event finally being charged although [cough, cough] two days after the federal election.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Transition from a Fugue to Enlightenment With an SJW Kit from the Outrage Outlet! at October 23, 2019 01:25 PM (hLRSq)

145I am announcing my candidacy for the office of President of the United States representing the Valu-Rite Party. By doing so I immunize myself from any investigation into my dealings. Like those five missing hobos.

150133
Not supposed to be anything inside the SCIF except what is authorized.
Cellphones turned in at the door. As for EMs, that also should be
barred. Assuming the SCIF is within specs. But we are talking a basement
in Washington DC.

It's the SCIF for the US H of R, fer Chrissakes. Are you telling me they have a second rate SCIF?

176
What's that saying the WaPo uses? Oh yeah, Democracy Dies In Darkness. I expect that paper to publish an editorial calling for openness in House impeachment proceedings on Trump in, oh, about 5 million years.

Posted by: Gref at October 23, 2019 01:29 PM (AMIL/)

177
>>>More good news from Canada. Syrian (rich family) refugee who helped assault the old woman using the walker to cross the street to attend a conservative speaking event finally being charged although [cough, cough] two days after the federal election.

They should be charged with electricity.

Posted by: Max Power at October 23, 2019 01:29 PM (q177U)

178
93 Call me when they throw Schiff into the Tiber river.
Posted by: joe, living dangerously at October 23, 2019

*
*

Never mind the river. Make it the Tarpeian Rock.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at October 23, 2019 01:26 PM (ClOmq)

------

Shit you beat me to that joke.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 23, 2019 01:29 PM (qAM1p)

179
I cannot believe the nerve of these so called Republicans violating long held democratic norms! Where are their principles? This is not who we are.
Posted by: Mitt Romney (R-UT) at October 23, 2019 01:26 PM (htJYU)

Yes Mitt, it's sad to see how far the GOP has fallen from its height in 2012 when it nominated you. It's frankly a shame that politics has become a bunch of unprincipled stunts like this.

197
Not since the stolen election of 2000, during which time the Republicans stole the vote in Florida, have we seen such bad behavior. The so-called "Brooks Brothers Riot" was bad enough, but now Republican officials are using the same strongarm tactics against their honorable opponents, all in the name of prohibiting inquiry into their illegitimate president.

Posted by: The Press at October 23, 2019 01:31 PM (e/H31)

198
Mitt Romney
45s
I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.
Behavior such as this is not only unseemly-- it weakens the public's trust in their leadership.
I hope that Republican leadership disciplines those members who took part in this scrum for violating the sanctity of the public trust.

Posted by: JoeF. at October 23, 2019 01:31 PM (NFEMn)

199158 It's not just a room in the basement. SCIFs cost a shitload of money.
Posted by: pawn

Yep

Posted by: Puddleglum at October 23, 2019 01:32 PM (9wM0H)

200
Schiff and his con-conspirators were going to 'coach' the witness until she spouted the party line. They've been embarrassed and humiliated before and were not taking chances.

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 23, 2019 01:32 PM (26lyI)

201
160 Wait. I thought a "stunt" was what that Democrat "throuple" did.

205
I was at one secure facility where I had to surrender my cell phone before entering and, lol, they had the same computer systems I can access at home on my own computer with my CAC Card?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at October 23, 2019 01:32 PM (85Gof)

206
198 Mitt Romney
45s
I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.
Behavior such as this is not only unseemly-- it weakens the public's trust in their leadership.
I hope that Republican leadership disciplines those members who took part in this scrum for violating the sanctity of the public trust.
Posted by: JoeF. at October 23, 2019 01:31 PM (NFEMn)

___

Amen brother!!

Posted by: Pierre Delecto at October 23, 2019 01:32 PM (FiUMj)

207
Mitt Romney
45s
I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.
Behavior such as this is not only unseemly-- it weakens the public's trust in their leadership.
I hope that Republican leadership disciplines those members who took part in this scrum for violating the sanctity of the public trust.

WOW!

Cut. Jib. Newsletter.

Posted by: Pierre Delicto at October 23, 2019 01:32 PM (NFEMn)

208It's in a secret room because you losers can't handle listening to The Truth.

214Mitt Romney
45s
I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.

Posted by: JoeF.

LOWER HOUSE.... Jeeze, that guy is a insecure twat.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at October 23, 2019 01:33 PM (1Vobx)

215
This is the same House that allowed Debbie Washes-Her-Schlitz have foreign born Pakinstanis running her IT and well stealing everything they could.

Why should a House SCIF be secure?

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 23, 2019 01:33 PM (26lyI)

216
Republicans should have just brought in a good fan and turned it on. That would have been enough to blow Schiff's balloon head off that stick he calls his neck.

Posted by: Indirect Fire at October 23, 2019 01:33 PM (1U5Nb)

217
Mitt Romney
45s
I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.
Behavior such as this is not only unseemly-- it weakens the public's trust in their leadership.
I hope that Republican leadership disciplines those members who took part in this scrum for violating the sanctity of the public trust.

221
213 On a scale of one to how precise the Ancient Aliens guys say every construction joint is at Macchu Picchu, how tightly is David French clutching his pearls right now?
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at October 23, 2019 01:33 PM (JCrfD)

Let's just say that the fainting couch has collapsed.

Posted by: joncelli, because somebody had to at October 23, 2019 01:34 PM (RD7QR)

222
On a scale of one to how precise the Ancient Aliens guys say every construction joint is at Macchu Picchu, how tightly is David French clutching his pearls right now?
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at October 23, 2019 01:33 PM (JCrfD)
++++++++++++
I am sure they're turning to dust as we speak.

I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party
from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into
the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.

Behavior such as this is not only unseemly-- it weakens the public's trust in their leadership.

I hope that Republican leadership disciplines those members who took
part in this scrum for violating the sanctity of the public trust.

WOW!

Cut. Jib. Newsletter.

Posted by: Pierre Delicto at October 23, 2019 01:32 PM (NFEMn)

Everyone to the ramparts....Pierre Delecto was personally offended. To the King To the King.

236
And ace don't ignore the even better lie in the Politico clip: GOP has "struggled" to defend Trump? WTFFF?

Non-whistleblowing/perhaps itself illegal inaccurate disclosure of presidential conversation with a foreign leader occurs, in which nothing alleged [incorrectly] is the least bit unusual, much less improper, even less illegal or impeachable - immediate release of transcript confirms all this. Dumb stunt over, instantly.

Regardless, Dems proceed with unprecedented, farcical, unconstitutional "process". But it's GOP that is "struggling" to defend Trump from ridiculous, disproven allegations that *even if true, were of no consequence*.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 23, 2019 01:36 PM (QDnY+)

237
I'll bet NBC, ABC, CBS, and PBS (spit!) will be portraying it as The Hill and Politico have already done.
Posted by: Les Kinetic

240
222 On a scale of one to how precise the Ancient Aliens guys say every construction joint is at Macchu Picchu, how tightly is David French clutching his pearls right now?
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at October 23, 2019 01:33 PM (JCrfD)
++++++++++++
I am sure they're turning to dust as we speak.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at October 23, 2019 01:34 PM (e/H31)

244
They should recreate the Animal House coughing scene on the floor of the House and repeat Tim Matheson's speech until Dean Pelosi gives them one more chance.

Posted by: mercenary13

Oblig.:

https://youtu.be/ROxvT8KKdFw

That scene is 3 minutes and 19 seconds of Gold.

Posted by: Sharkman at October 23, 2019 01:37 PM (g7BLK)

245
Mitt Romney
45s
I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.
Behavior such as this is not only unseemly-- it weakens the public's trust in their leadership.
I hope that Republican leadership disciplines those members who took part in this scrum for violating the sanctity of the public trust.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

@JeffMordock
·
8m
About 30 minutes, ago four boxes of pizza arrived at the House sciff where Republicans are staging a sit-in to protest being shuttered from impeachment inquiry. Republican staffer confirmed the pizzas are for Republicans

Posted by: weft cut-loop at October 23, 2019 01:38 PM (1Vobx)

247
The SCIF is for members of Congress to view classified material, not for democrat priorities.

250
Congress can't be trusted with the business of Congress, says part of the Congress.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at October 23, 2019 01:38 PM (YA914)

251
We're not going to sit here and let you bad mouth the United States of America!

Posted by: rammajamma at October 23, 2019 01:38 PM (PQRcz)

252
Mitt Romney
45s
I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.
Behavior such as this is not only unseemly-- it weakens the public's trust in their leadership.
I hope that Republican leadership disciplines those members who took part in this scrum for violating the sanctity of the public trust.

--

Isn't this like... exactly what Lebron said about the Hong Kong thing?

Schiff got up and slapped Trump's face, man we just fell about the place! The boys are back in town!orEverybody was Kung-fu fighting!

Posted by: Archer at October 23, 2019 01:39 PM (gmo/4)

256
OT: the Terminator : Dark Fate reviews are up.
It's not a grrrl power Mary Sue abomination. Several critics are reviewing it for what it is, not for its "message". That's the good news.
TDF is... just another bad Terminator movie. That's the bad news.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at October 23, 2019 01:39 PM (ykYG2)

257
It took me weeks to break the habit of looking at Romeny's twitter feed to check if JoeF was telling the truth.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at October 23, 2019 01:36 PM (e/H31)

-----

I'm pretty sure JoeF has a little door in his wall where he can crawl in and become Pierre Delecto, like in Being John Malkovich.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 23, 2019 01:39 PM (qAM1p)

258Mitt Romney
45s
I was personally offended by the antics of a few members of my party from the lower House in attempting to disrupt an important hearing into the President's handling of classified information in the Ukraine.
Behavior such as this is not only unseemly-- it weakens the public's trust in their leadership.
I hope that Republican leadership disciplines those members who took part in this scrum for violating the sanctity of the public trust.

265
Now cue the comments where I'm a Hillary loving commie......
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 01:38 PM (FiUMj)
******
NO! Just as last time it is over a year away from mattering. Buh Bye

Posted by: nasty little shitbag at October 23, 2019 01:40 PM (BqBId)

266194 Notice how Dems wanted us to sort out Rwanda, where we had zero strategic interests at stake?
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara

How about the comments where you're an annoying chicken f*cker with a victim complex?

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at October 23, 2019 01:40 PM (ykYG2)

270
256 OT: the Terminator : Dark Fate reviews are up.
It's not a grrrl power Mary Sue abomination. Several critics are reviewing it for what it is, not for its "message". That's the good news.
TDF is... just another bad Terminator movie. That's the bad news.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at October 23, 2019 01:39 PM (ykYG2)

=========

Overall, the reception seems pretty mixed.

Some like the propulsiveness of the movie's energy. Others are really harping on the fact that it's just a repeat of story beats from the previous films, especially T2.

292
Has anyone seen the comedian on Gutfeld do his Adam Schiff impression in skits the past couple of weeks?
Posted by: Ktgreat at October 23, 2019 01:40 PM (f8ilN)
+++++++++++
Does he dress up as a giant pencil like I imagine Dixon-Ticonderoga uses at trade shows?

295
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 01:41 PM (FiUMj)
*******
Then go buy a bunch of Underroos because you shit your pants a lot

Posted by: nasty little shitbag at October 23, 2019 01:43 PM (BqBId)

296Now link the rest of the Emerson poll showing trump getting 49% against all top Dems.

He won with 46 in 2016.

Posted by: Clown Shoes at October 23, 2019 01:41 PM (keBnContext is not the point of LL.

Posted by: kallisto at October 23, 2019 01:43 PM (DJFLF)

297
Scalise just used a reference to the Soviet Union re authoritarian, closed/secret behavior by the Dems. Unfortunately, not just due to generational/world change, but also due to miseducation and the erosion in values and civic culture, few younger people will even get the reference.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 23, 2019 01:43 PM (QDnY+)

298
Trump could order the SCIF cert pulled until a reinvestigation and analysis. It's now compromised. No more secrets for you, Schiff.

Posted by: Jean at October 23, 2019 01:44 PM (i9uaz)

299
I'm pretty sure I got fooled by JoeF's excellent parody also. Partly I'm stupid, but mostly JoeF does just that good a job. Also I'm stupid.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at October 23, 2019 01:44 PM (ykYG2)

300
In the storming vein, LegalInsurrection has the story of angry Catholics storming a Vatican "Amazonian Synod" religious display of what were thought to be pagan images, and then throwing those into the Tiber. Following that event, Catholics threatened that, next time, there would be a few Bishops swimming too.

301
You know, Obama used to walk over to the secure facility, just to see what was going on. He, like Lincoln, walking to the War Department Telegraph Room, felt it his duty. Many was the time where Obama had to fight his way in, one time breaking the jaw of a Capitol Policeman. The people had the right to know! A tough President for tough times.

Posted by: bill in arkansas at October 23, 2019 01:44 PM (C1Lsn)

302
Rush was talking about this just a bit ago. Schiff is running it like a grand jury, which could be seen as a star chamber. The only problem is it's not legal.

/but will anyone do anything to stop him legally? IDK
Posted by: shibumi at October 23, 2019 01:41 PM (2KYgn)
++++++++++++
The Dem argument is that an impeachment is an indictment and grand juries are closed and so the inquiry should be closed.

Except that it isn't an indictment or a grand jury - it is a political process and political process occurs in the open in a rePUBLIC.

Well there is the next 2020 Democrat Presidential hopeful. Or O'Rourke's running mate.

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 23, 2019 01:44 PM (26lyI)

304
I know this is the House but where in the hell is Ted Cruz in all this?

Posted by: Eric at October 23, 2019 01:44 PM (abQDf)

305
MSM: Republicans break into a meeting on the impeachment of Pres. Trump. They had no business being in the room and should have been stopped. Where were the Capitol police? We reporters will get to the bottom of this and condemn these so called legislators for their illegal actions.

Posted by: Colin at October 23, 2019 01:45 PM (LsXVs)

306 Let's just get down to brass tacks and enact the behavior of foreign governments who get in knock down-drag out brawls right on the legislative floor.

316
That Medium article in the sidebar on climate has some decent points about politicizing science and what some scientists are actually saying as opposed to what climate hysterics are saying... but its deeply flawed.

He takes the position without any defense that the global warming scaremongering is absolutely true and that only someone who is crazy or stupid would question that. Then he blames the right for not buying into all this, which makes the left able to use it for political gain.

But the left has stated repeatedly (and he quotes a few times) that their goal all along has had nothing to do with science and everything to do with their radical political schemes.

318300
In the storming vein, LegalInsurrection has the story of angry Catholics
storming a Vatican "Amazonian Synod" religious display of what were
thought to be pagan images, and then throwing those into the Tiber.
Following that event, Catholics threatened that, next time, there would
be a few Bishops swimming too.I told yawz that the Italians will stand so much then they don't stand no more.Red Frankie really needs to watch his commie step...

Posted by: kallisto at October 23, 2019 01:45 PM (DJFLF)

319
Good for them! They represent us (or at least part of us) and those secret Schiffty star chamber scammers need to be reminded this is NOT their show.

323
Trump should just make Congress use official process. For everything. If they want any information, make them attach a subpoena to it. Do not allow anyone in the exec branch to talk to anyone in the legislative branch without counsel present. Make them comply with every conceivable piece of paperwork and unwind the infinite rolls of red tape. Pull clearances and force reapplication. The whole magilla.

336MSM: Republicans break into a meeting on the impeachment of Pres. Trump. They had no business being in the room and should have been stopped. Where were the Capitol police? We reporters will get to the bottom of this and condemn these so called legislators for their illegal actions.

Do you want tumbrels and pikes? Because this is how you'll get tumbrels and pikes.

It's unthinkable that Turkey would not suffer consequences for malevolent behavior that was contrary to the interests of the United States and our Fwends!
Posted by: JoeF. at October 23, 2019 01:46 PM (NFEMn)

340
I've lost track of critically-important national affairs, since I was at the TX MoMe last weekend. Is PDT using the word 'lynching' worse than his withdrawing a handful of troops from NW Syria, or are both worse than him serving only one scoop of ice cream to White House guests, or what?

Personally, I believe the latter is true. True to the extent that your boyfriend has to pull your Little Mermaid-print satin sheets out of his bleached asshole after you put a Hoover maneuver on his manhood each morning.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at October 23, 2019 01:48 PM (YA914)

345
Do not allow anyone in the exec branch to talk to anyone in the legislative branch without counsel present.

It was my understanding that Pompeo told people from State not to go, but they went anyway.. Of course they are anti-Trumpers for the most part

Posted by: joncelli, because somebody had to at October 23, 2019 01:49 PM (RD7QR)

354
It was my understanding that Pompeo told people from State not to go, but they went anyway.. Of course they are anti-Trumpers for the most part

Posted by: It's me donna at October 23, 2019 01:48 PM (O2RFr)
++++++++
Yes, that has been the order in *this* matter. I mean for everything. Throw heaping bags of sand in the gears of state and grind the damn thing to a halt until they cry uncle.

And if people went without counsel against orders, those people are insubordinate and should be summarily dismissed.

Personally, I believe the latter is true. True to the extent that your boyfriend has to pull your Little Mermaid-print satin sheets out of his bleached asshole after you put a Hoover maneuver on his manhood each morning.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger at October 23, 2019 01:48 PM (YA914)
********
Got to save this & use it for LL all the time ! hahahahaha

361It was my understanding that Pompeo told people from State not to go,
but they went anyway.. Of course they are anti-Trumpers for the most
part

Far, far, far too many people in the bureaucracy think they actually make policy and run the government. Of course, that's precisely why State, CIA, FBI, etc. recruit heavily at Ivy schools; they're looking specifically for morally flexible people who think they're smarter than everyone else.

Posted by: DocJ at October 23, 2019 01:50 PM (DU2N9)

362
The site where I found the lyrics said the wording is "ballroom" blitz -- though like you I've always thought it was "barroom." Which is it?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at October 23, 2019 01:49 PM (ClOmq)
++++++++++
Ballroom.

373"I announce to you with great joy: the Pachamama idols that polluted the
Church of St Maria Traspontina have been cast away into the Tiber River
as an act of obedience to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in
reparation to His Sacred Heart wounded by sin," Marshall tweeted.ABC News reported the statue "impoundment" as a theft.

Posted by: kallisto at October 23, 2019 01:51 PM (DJFLF)

374
Again, what the Democrats are doing IS NOT IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS. They are not engaging in an impeachment.

Remember when Mueller Time ended up a miserable failure and embarrassment for the left? How they all looked like jackasses and liars? Immediately, several leading voices such as Schiff said "well we will have to do our own investigation then!!!"

And that's what this is. Its just digging into the president trying to find something, anything that will give them the excuse to impeach. And they are finding two things, but Jack left the building.

375
345
Do not allow anyone in the exec branch to talk to anyone in the legislative branch without counsel present.

It was my understanding that Pompeo told people from State not to
go, but they went anyway.. Of course they are anti-Trumpers for the most
part

Posted by: It's me donna at October 23, 2019 01:48 PM (O2RFr) In direct violation of instructions from your superior? Sounds like grounds for termination to me. And banned from federal employment for life.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at October 23, 2019 01:51 PM (N39Ws)

376
Great! We had a guy who was head of the frikin' CIA that doesn't understand simple f'ing shit like this.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at October 23, 2019 01:51 PM (1ISKN)

377
368 GOPe saw the secret meeting as a challenge to their power.
Posted by: davidt at October 23, 2019 01:51 PM (gaHzY)

========

Now Congress as a whole should take up that mentality against the executive branch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMvkusAI9DM
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at October 23, 2019 01:51 PM (A68IW)
+++++++++++
YouTube was kind enough to show me an ad from the NYT about climate alarmism before this video.

Personally, I believe the latter is true. True to the extent that your boyfriend has to pull your Little Mermaid-print satin sheets out of his bleached asshole after you put a Hoover maneuver on his manhood each morning.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger at October 23, 2019 01:48 PM (YA914)

He's an annoying chicken little. Can't figure out that 90% of what pisses people off isn't the substance of what he says but his delivery, and the fact that he repeats it constantly. And that when people do push back to him he behaves in such a passive aggressive bitchy manner that it just further annoys.

Posted by: Buzzion at October 23, 2019 01:52 PM (GQznZ)

385
"The site where I found the lyrics said the wording is "ballroom" blitz -- though like you I've always thought it was "barroom." Which is it?"

389
I'm totally down with this, glad to see them fight. But there are republicans on the committee already there, aren't they? Alot of people seem to have the idea the dems are doing this alone, in secret. I don't think that's true and it let's the GOP off the hook to think so. They are they. They need to fight. They have no excuse not to.

Still, good to that the Repubs are showing some life signs. The dems don't have to follow the rules, you shouldn't either. Fight!

395
374 Again, what the Democrats are doing IS NOT IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS. They are not engaging in an impeachment.

Remember when Mueller Time ended up a miserable failure and embarrassment for the left? How they all looked like jackasses and liars? Immediately, several leading voices such as Schiff said "well we will have to do our own investigation then!!!"

And that's what this is. Its just digging into the president trying to find something, anything that will give them the excuse to impeach. And they are finding two things, but Jack left the building.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 23, 2019 01:51 PM (KZzsI)

========

It's the same six committees doing the same work they were doing three months ago.

It's theater to distract voters and convince their activists that they are fighting.

They can't maintain this for 13 months. It's going to collapse, and it's going to be hilarious when it does.

Just then in a ballroom blitz thirty Knights of the Round Table burst into Castle Anthrax to rescue Laura.
Posted by: Anna Puma at October 23, 2019 01:51 PM (26lyI)

The safe word is *always* swordfish.

Posted by: DR.WTF at October 23, 2019 01:53 PM (aS1PU)

399
I remember being 9. When Clinton won the primary. My mom had been for Paul Tsongas. When he lost the primary to Bill Clinton, she was disappointed, and thought his polling showed him as being a strong contender.

My conservative dad was just laughing about it. He pointed out that the polls had all shown Carter and Dukakis beating Reagan and Bush - until one month before the election, when they adjusted to save their phony-baloney reputations.

That they were nothing more than Democrat propaganda, and hinge on the whims of the Party.

And .. what? Is there something we should be doing or just joining you in soiling ourselves?

Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 23, 2019 01:54 PM (yQpMk)

410
Sadly, if the Senate removes Trump as President they aren't like to vote to make him VP.
Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 23, 2019 01:52 PM (yQpMk)
++++++++++++
Then Pence can crank down a bottle of vodka, clamber onto an M1 tank, roll down to congress and make it very clear that they're doing to be recessing post haste.

420
"Fake or not, the impeachment show is not helping Trump.
Now cue the comments where I'm a Hillary loving commie."Posted by: Lurking

yeah, they have selective leaking, and ignorant voters think it is a real thing. But when it is (hopefully) later revealed to be more circus clown BS, Trump gets more solid ratings.

The abuse of office (isn't that the charge they want to get Trump on now?) ... is what the Dems and some FBI/CIA are doing. We need real indictments, not subtle hints that "something is happening" #2weeks.

Yes it takes time to make solid cases ... but I can't believe there is not open evidence that could easily be prosecuted. I used to watch Charles Ortel present an hour or two each week on solid evidence that Clintons ran an illegal charity, multiple clear counts of crimes ... nobody touches them. This is not normal "due process" ... it is a protected crime syndicate that can murder inconvenient witnesses, imprison others (Epstein, Assange, Rudy's Ukraine witnesses) ... Mifsud in hiding?

Posted by: illiniwek at October 23, 2019 01:55 PM (Cus5s)

421
411 Sadly, if the Senate removes Trump as President they aren't like to vote to make him VP.
Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 23, 2019 01:52 PM (yQpMk)

----

They dont get a vote.
Posted by: fixerupper at October 23, 2019 01:55 PM (8XRCm)

They went to sea in a Sieve, they did,
In a Sieve they went to sea:
In spite of all their friends could say,
On a winter's morn, on a stormy day,
In a Sieve they went to sea!
And when the Sieve turned round and round,
And every one cried, 'You'll all be drowned!'
They called aloud, 'Our Sieve ain't big,
But we don't care a button! we don't care a fig!
In a Sieve we'll go to sea!'
Far and few, far and few,
Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,
And they went to sea in a Sieve.

429It's theater to distract voters and convince their activists that they are fighting.

Right, its to help fundraising, to smear Trump's name, and to give the networks like CNN something to talk about instead of everything else that's going on, like Epstein's murder, er, suicide, and the Middle East success, etc.

Right after they remove Trump they will remove Pence. Nancy is President, just like she imagines! Dems will have power furever!!!!!

Posted by: shibumi at October 23, 2019 01:57 PM (2KYgn)

434
I forget if it was Lewis or Cummings (one of those Cabbage Patch Doll looking freaks) who sat on the floor of the Congress to demand gun control. I think the MSM used words like "heroic" and "impassioned" because it was one of their own.

Posted by: CrustyB at October 23, 2019 01:57 PM (ToSAM)

435
(I would have been first, but I had to change all the punctuation to get it to post)

no need. they have staff to relay messages.--------------------------Pakistani, Chinese and Israeli intelligence will also provide copies of all communications for a small fee.

Posted by: Jolo at October 23, 2019 01:59 PM (WrMOC)

445
It's the SCIF for the US H of R, fer Chrissakes. Are you telling me they have a second rate SCIF?

Everything else about Congress is second rate or worse.
Posted by: Ian S.

It was built by a Chinese subcontractor. You do the math.

Posted by: rickb223 at October 23, 2019 01:59 PM (ftdxp)

446
Lurker the reason people doubt your support for the president is that you continually look for every possible opportunity to say things that are negative about him and his future. Every single piece of bad news you can find, every poll, every comment, everything you can discover that is meant to depress or upset people, you rush to post about.

Then you are confused, nay, astounded that people question your intent.

You do understand that there's a pretty long established definition for someone who posts things merely to get a negative reaction, yes?

The internet taught me that the Blinded By The Light lyric that goes "Revved up like a deuce" was not "Wrapped up like a douche" which was how I had always heard it.

Posted by: Hands at October 23, 2019 01:59 PM (786Ro)

451
Right after they remove Trump they will remove Pence. Nancy is President, just like she imagines! Dems will have power furever!!!!!
Posted by: shibumi at October 23, 2019 01:57 PM (2KYgn)
++++++++++
This has to be done. I am waiting for the Pence accusation to come out of left field. If we see it, Trump is toast and the fix is in and they're going for a twofer.

458
It is going to kill people when Trump is reelected. Some sad people will actually kill themselves.

Posted by: Nick in Tallahassee at October 23, 2019 02:00 PM (wGbBR)

459
Paper Mache Head Schiff in the Furher Bunker beneath the Corpse of Due Process and Representative Government. Can this fit on a bumper sticker?

Posted by: Puddin Head at October 23, 2019 02:00 PM (yRAFu)

460
My conservative dad was just laughing about it. He pointed out that the polls had all shown Carter and Dukakis beating Reagan and Bush - until one month before the election, when they adjusted to save their phony-baloney reputations.

461
458 It is going to kill people when Trump is reelected. Some sad people will actually kill themselves.
----------------
They won't. They never do. They are worse than Tremor Worms.

Posted by: Puddin Head at October 23, 2019 02:01 PM (yRAFu)

462
So the Dems say they crashed the party. Has anyone pointed out to them that impeachment is not a party but a process that has to involve both political parties? Good on the Republicans for crashing this farce.

Posted by: notsothoreau at October 23, 2019 02:01 PM (JKNZq)

463
He has written much better songs but for some drug-addled reason it was a big hit for him.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 23, 2019 02:00 PM (KZzsI)

467457 I thought it was Bar Room blitz
Posted by: Seems Legit at October 23, 2019

*
*

Which does make a little more sense. A blitz, defined as a big free-for-all fight, would be a little more likely to break out in a barroom than in a ballroom.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at October 23, 2019 02:02 PM (ClOmq)

468
And yes, if Springsteen would enunciate, his lyrics would make more sense as well. Mumbling word salad is popular these days with rappers as well, when the entire point of the style is to dazzle people with your amazingly fast lyrics and word play.

469
It is going to kill people when Trump is reelected. Some sad people will actually kill themselves.
Posted by: Nick in Tallahassee at October 23, 2019 02:00 PM (wGbBR)
+++++++++++++
I doubt it. They may well kill Trump voters, though.

473
446 Lurker the reason people doubt your support for the president is that you continually look for every possible opportunity to say things that are negative about him and his future. Every single piece of bad news you can find, every poll, every comment, everything you can discover that is meant to depress or upset people, you rush to post about.

Then you are confused, nay, astounded that people question your intent.

487
When the Supremes' hit "Come See About Me" was popular in 1964, my brother and I were sure they were saying "Don't Pee Above Me."

Posted by: Meade Lux Lewis at October 23, 2019 02:04 PM (sWM8x)

488
like when he called "eleven" a stinking drunk.
Posted by: kallisto at October 23, 2019

Wait, that's not true? How do you know?

Posted by: Buzzion at October 23, 2019 02:04 PM (GQznZ)

489
Blinded By The Light is one of Springsteen's worst songs, its garbage with stupid poetry. He has written much better songs but for some drug-addled reason it was a big hit for him.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor

Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Posted by: Sock Monkey.. not first at October 23, 2019 02:05 PM (tvKLv)

490
So the Lil Pencilneck Geek takes his coached witness and disappears before the witness testifies. Smells like Schiff to me.

Seconded. Never liked the fucker, even before I knew his political stances. Always sounded like he was passing a kidney stone while he "sang"
Posted by: Minnfidel at October 23, 2019

*
*

I've never cared for him either. Apparently he can write a good song when he tries; the Pointer Sisters' "Fire" is his, and he had that good line in "Hungry Heart," "Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack, / I went out for a ride and I never went back."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at October 23, 2019 02:05 PM (ClOmq)

494
I'm starting to wonder if Rich Zeoli wasn't right about this supposed "whistleblower."

It was a big hit for some other band. At the time, "blinded by the light" was considered Springsteen's attempt at Dylan-esque. I guess so, but I was never a fan of Dylan-esque stream of consciousness bullshit. (which was big at the time, starting with poets and that asshole from Ireland.)

The song does do a good job at creating images and rhyming, and it is catchy, so I don't see the hate. But yes he has much better songs once he found his own style.

It's unthinkable that Turkey would not suffer consequences for malevolent behavior that was contrary to the interests of the United States and our Fwends!
Posted by: JoeF.

The dude is drunk. I thought Mormons had a rule against drinking???

Posted by: weft cut-loop at October 23, 2019 02:06 PM (1Vobx)

504
The internet taught me that the Blinded By The Light lyric that goes "Revved up like a deuce" was not "Wrapped up like a douche" which was how I had always heard it.
Posted by: Hands at October 23, 2019 01:59 PM (786Ro)

I thought it was wrapped up like a deuce, which also makes no sense except in a completely gross way.

Posted by: LASue at October 23, 2019 02:06 PM (Ed8Zd)

505
I've never cared for him either. Apparently he can write a good song when he tries; the Pointer Sisters' "Fire" is his, and he had that good line in "Hungry Heart," "Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack, / I went out for a ride and I never went back."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at October 23, 2019 02:05 PM (ClOmq)

-----

He also wrote "Honey Id drive all night just to buy you a pair of shoes".

Lately, I just ask anyone who gives support to any Democrat, "Three years of this nonsense. And nothing to show for it. Why do you hate America? Why do you participate to destroy your own country by listening to liars that want to bring it down, making up false information and spreading it?"

Again I ask, Democrat, why do you hate America? Why do you help to bring America down with lies?

513
was Schiff only removing SOME repubs from the SCIF meetings? So who were the "trusted" GOPe that were allowed to stay?

Doesn't matter ... someone is leaking, that was a crime, the SCIF is not secure when there is a criminal leaker in the room. Schiff himself, probably ... but sure, it is the Rs pulling the cunning stunt.

Posted by: illiniwek at October 23, 2019 02:07 PM (Cus5s)

514
Even with their "douche" lyrics, still way better than Springsteen.
-------------------
Springsteen is just another fucking dwarf.

Posted by: Puddin Head at October 23, 2019 02:07 PM (yRAFu)

515So this is just an echo chamber then? Nothing negative allowed?
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 02:02 PM

Horde lyrics:

I don't know why I go to extremes
Too high or too low, there ain't no in between
And if I stand or I fall, it's all or nothing at all.
Darlin I don't know why I go to extremes

533he had that good line in "Hungry Heart," "Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack, / I went out for a ride and I never went back."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

There's another one I could never hear right.

Thought "Baltimore, Jack" was "bought 'em a Jag". The next line presuming he hops into a new Jaguar and drove away.

Posted by: Hands at October 23, 2019 02:10 PM (786Ro)

534
I guess we can all go,home. Gonna be an early evening. Lurker has convinced me

Posted by: Nevergiveup at October 23, 2019 02:10 PM (85Gof)

535
Hmmm Speech and Debate Clause seems to say they can't be arrested, and in fact have a legal right to be there.

Posted by: Don Q at October 23, 2019 02:10 PM (NgKpN)

536
I'm no defender of LL but we have frequent posts regard to polls. Someone else besides LL thinks they have some significance. ( I'm not one of them)
Posted by: Easy Andy at October 23, 2019 02:07 PM (9YKBM)

542
I've broken all your windows
And I've rammed through all your doors
Who am I to ask you to fight my wars
And you should know that's true
You should know that too
I came for you

Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:11 PM (ZLI7S)

543
The local AOR stations played Blinded by the Light before the Manfred Mann cover came out, way too often (once a day is too often, honestly). I think the cover made it more mainstream, God only knows why, but it was a hit before that.

I do like Manfred Mann's other covers of his songs though. For You is amazing.

551
536 I'm no defender of LL but we have frequent posts regard to polls. Someone else besides LL thinks they have some significance. ( I'm not one of them)
Posted by: Easy Andy at October 23, 2019 02:07 PM (9YKBM)

Uncovering Democrat corruption with unruly hair.Beating Hillary and not feeling sorry for it.etc.

Posted by: DaveA at October 23, 2019 02:11 PM (FhXTo)

557
My favorite part is how terrible it is that the Republicans are PUTTING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK by going into a secure facility with phones and blah blah blah. I'm old enough to remember when you could send sensitive/top secret documents via a wildly insecure, illegal private server and then have the people who point out that you're breaking the law be smeared as loons and conspiracy theorists.

569
LL polls these days are not really used to report what the electorate is thinking but rather to shape what the electorate is thinking. They have become more and more nothing but propaganda tactics and a way to gin up sentiment.

Using them as a founding plank of an argument is going to be met with a certain amount of disdain.

Before Obama I loved Springsteen. I used to buy into the whole "He's the voice of the common man" bullshit. Then, like so many things post-Obama, and especially during the 2016 election where Springsteen campaigned HARD for Hillary, the scales were removed from my eyes and I realized Springsteen was the worst kind of hardcore socialist lefty cocksucker who'd been running a scam for all those years.

I fucking DESPISE Bruce Springsteen.

Posted by: Biergood at October 23, 2019 02:13 PM (yb6r+)

578
568 If you truly believe that's the way people think around here, then you are beyond hope.

Seek help.

__

That is EXACTLY how people think here.
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 02:13 PM (FiUMj)

Then leave.

Posted by: Buzzion at October 23, 2019 02:13 PM (GQznZ)

579
555 I hope Bloomberg enters the race with ONE BEELION DOLLAHRZ.
-------------------
Do you think blacks will vote for a Jewish Billionaire?

Posted by: Puddin Head at October 23, 2019 02:13 PM (yRAFu)

580Someone else besides LL thinks they have some significance. ( I'm not one of them)

They're cheap, easy posts. LOOK A POLL! RESPOND!

I hate em. Most people don't care for them, but pundits lurve them some polls.

Polling is the modern faux-scientific way of divination. Instead of tea leaves of animal entrails, you have a guy with a clipboard asking leading questions of a set tiny group, then pretending that equals the opinions of a huge set of people.

And then there are popularity polls which are even more worthless. Even if they are remotely indicative of the public's mood, they don't represent what will happen in an election. You can disapprove someone and vote for them anyway. Particularly if you disapprove of their opponents even more.

590
The Catholics I follow on Twitter were truly pissed off about the Amazon statues. They were fertility statues, including one with an enormous erection. And they were being treated like relics of the Church. They overstepped. And they are not making any efforts to Christianize the locals in the Amazon. Instead, they seem to be trying to bring their culture into the Church.

Posted by: notsothoreau at October 23, 2019 02:15 PM (JKNZq)

591
That is EXACTLY how people think here.
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 02:13 PM (FiUMj)

599
The first clue you're dealing with someone who is profoundly unserious and does not understand the world is that they really, truly believe in polling. It doesn't even matter how wrong they are, the still keep on believing.

This is akin to the person who believes stats in baseball over experience of players.

601
569 LL polls these days are not really used to report what the electorate is thinking but rather to shape what the electorate is thinking. They have become more and more nothing but propaganda tactics and a way to gin up sentiment.

Using them as a founding plank of an argument is going to be met with a certain amount of disdain.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at October 23, 2019 02:13 PM (ycWCI)

Modern polls are not for information, they are for intimidation.

Basically, their entire purpose is to convince people that their ideas are unpopular and should be kept to themselves.

605
Lurker the reason people doubt your support for the president is that you continually look for every possible opportunity to say things that are negative about him and his future. Every single piece of bad news you can find, every poll, every comment, everything you can discover that is meant to depress or upset people, you rush to post about.

--

This x1000. Some people just don't understand how others easily perceive them. Lurker seems to come across just as you describe, and when we see a pattern, we notice. So I take his/her comments with a grain of salt or usually glide over them altogether.

Posted by: Lady in Black - Death to the Man Bun at October 23, 2019 02:16 PM (JoUsr)

606
I kinda like the politico description. I have a mental image of the R's flipping tables and lighting trash cans on fire.

Posted by: G. Gnome at October 23, 2019 02:16 PM (al6UK)

607
In 2016 polls were off by a few points in a handful of states. After being accurate in pretty much every other election before and after.

You can think that one fluke will be repeated in 2020, which is possible. Or you can believe it was a 1 time fluke.

Only time will tell which is true.
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 02:12 PM (FiUMj)

Oh man...I still remember when Wolf Blitzer had a serious discussion about Texas going to Hillary...

Basically, their entire purpose is to convince people that their ideas are unpopular and should be kept to themselves.
Posted by: Cato, Collectivism Delenda Est at October 23, 2019 02:16 PM (J+mig)

This.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at October 23, 2019 02:17 PM (ycWCI)

609Before Obama I loved Springsteen. I used to buy into the whole "He's the voice of the common man" bullshit. Then, like so many things post-Obama, and especially during the 2016 election where Springsteen campaigned HARD for Hillary, the scales were removed from my eyes and I realized Springsteen was the worst kind of hardcore socialist lefty cocksucker who'd been running a scam for all those years.

611
Head to head polls mean less than dog shit till they are actually head to head and after Labor Day and then you have look very closely at how the poll was constructed

Posted by: Nevergiveup at October 23, 2019 02:17 PM (85Gof)

612The Catholics I follow on Twitter were truly pissed off about the Amazon statues. They were fertility statues, including one with an enormous erection. And they were being treated like relics of the Church.

oftentimes to lead not to actually test anything existing, but to float things

but whatever, I'm some dummo who can't capitalize

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 23, 2019 02:18 PM (Rarvo)

616
Remeber, before the election, we were told that all those people trying to get into the Trump rallies would never translate into votes? And now, we still have all those people trying to get into Trump rallies and are being told his support is cratering. Yeah, right. I've seem pictures of how few people want to go to a rally for any of the Dem candidates.

All political polls are magic, showing a representation of what people are thinking on a subject that few people care about. And like most magic it's all a trick.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Transition from a Fugue to Enlightenment With an SJW Kit from the Outrage Outlet! at October 23, 2019 02:18 PM (hLRSq)

618
595 That is EXACTLY how people think here.
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 02:13 PM (FiUMj)
*******
So Riddle me this Dorking Doker Why did the NYT & Washington Post BOTH have stories from DemoCrazy Party insiders who are panicking because they don't think there is a candidate that can beat PDT THink their internal polling is wrong Dick Nipple ?

...Iger said he was "puzzled" by it (the criticism) and that they (Coppola and Scorcese) failed to "appreciate the impact the films have on audiences".

Posted by: Indirect Fire at October 23, 2019 02:18 PM (1U5Nb)

621
Every single piece of bad news you can find, every poll, every comment, everything you can discover that is meant to depress or upset people, you rush to post about.

--

This x1000. Some people just don't understand how others easily perceive them. Lurker seems to come across just as you describe, and when we see a pattern, we notice. So I take his/her comments with a grain of salt or usually glide over them altogether.
Posted by: Lady in Black - Death to the Man Bun at October 23, 2019 02:16 PM (JoUsr)

Concerned Concerner?

Posted by: Don Q at October 23, 2019 02:18 PM (NgKpN)

622
588 Michael Bloomberg, Michelle O, or Mecha Hillary at the Dem Convention?
---
Let's be optimistic and just assume they're all running. And don't forget Reverend Ike! I think he's dead, but that shouldn't be an impediment.

Posted by: Meade Lux Lewis at October 23, 2019 02:19 PM (sWM8x)

623... I point out Trump's cratering support...
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 02:14 PM (FiUMj)

631
When the Washington Post and the NYT (not to mention Politico, etc., etc.) openly proclaim Brennan, Clapper, and others of that type as "patriots", yeah, I've long concluded that if 2016 was the "shy voter" election, 2020 is gonna leave 2016 in the dust.

Posted by: mrp at October 23, 2019 02:19 PM (Pqytn)

632I kinda like the politico description. I have a mental image of the R's flipping tables and lighting trash cans on fire.
Posted by: G. Gnome at October 23, 2019 02:16 PM (al6UK)

My usual mental image is of them shitting their pants and crying. Yours is infinitely preferable.

642 The tightening up as election day approaches is widely acknowledged.

and they were still wrong, even with the adjustment at the end. Nate Silver had one of his thirty or so models that showed Trump could win and people call that some kind of genius win, but it wasn't. It was a demonstration that polling is trash.

Every major election worldwide in the last five years has had the polling wrong. ALL of them. They keep screwing up over and over and over. And yet true believers are desperate to have the Secret Method of predicting the future, their crystal ball they can cling to and know the unknowable.

650
The site where I found the lyrics said the wording is "ballroom" blitz -- though like you I've always thought it was "barroom." Which is it?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

Ballroom.

I was lead singer with a group of friends who competed in an air band thing my sophomore year at Oregon State in '82. We "sang" that song and had to learn the words. I got to use a 12 foot bullwhip as my mike and cord.

It was a hoot but we lost to this skinny fucker who looked like Mick Jagger who "sang" Start Me Up while dancing on various tables filled with chicks. Fucker.

666
and they were still wrong, even with the adjustment at the end. Nate Silver had one of his thirty or so models that showed Trump could win and people call that some kind of genius win, but it wasn't.

667I'll just say more thing to Lurker, if you think the HQ is an echo chamber--you haven't been around for the throwdowns. And we have had some serious ones.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at October 23, 2019 02:17

671
Low approval doesn't mean a loss next year. But it means a greater likelihood of a loss. It means having work harder to get votes. It's a lot easier to get someone excited to vote when the like the guy vs voting for the guy because they think the other option is worse.

And like it or not impeachment has hurt Trump's approval. It was what Dems were going for and so far they're achieved their goal. And which is why they will continue with the show for months to come.

Man, I do not think you are a troll, I think you are exhibiting something a lot of us feel- bunker mentality. In this society we all have a tendency to feel like we are alone against the mass stupidity and sea of just plain evil. Polls are part of that vast and dark tide.

You say Trump's support is cratering. Setting aside that that is the message that the dems would love us to take, where is the other evidence? The rallies have still been packing them in. Now that is also a single data point and also propaganda (albeit for our side) but what else do we have to go by?

When it comes down to it, I hate polls. I do not need to have other people tell me what I think is right and wrong. Give me information on the case and I will make my own damn decision on what I fucking think.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at October 23, 2019 02:24 PM (ycWCI)

674I've been called a liar, a fraud, a deep state plant and more for actually supporting Trump.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:22 PM (ZLI7

Ah until you have been called a Nazi, your just an amateur

Posted by: Nevergiveup at October 23, 2019 02:24 PM (85Gof)

675
>>JackStraw and I still can't talk about the bailouts in '08 and '09.

Sure we can. They worked and the money was paid back with interest.

What else shall we chat about?

Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:24 PM (ZLI7S)

676...Iger said he was "puzzled" by it (the criticism) and that they (Coppola and Scorcese) failed to "appreciate the impact the films have on audiences"

This argument is like listening to a professor talk to a chimpanzee.

Scorcese and others point out that while entertaining and fun, the Marvel films are essentially cheap thrills and not great cinema. Instead of going "yeah, you're right but they're fun!" Marvel (and their zombie-like fans) are all OUTRAGED and shocked that someone, anyone could possibly doubt their greatness!

"they had an emotional impact" is not proof or even evidence of being great cinema. Horror films have an emotional impact (fear). Jackass films had an emotional impact (revulsion and regret for buying a ticket). That does not mean you've made art.

687
Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump
The Never Trumper Republicans, though on respirators with not many left, are in certain ways worse and more dangerous for our Country than the Do Nothing Democrats. Watch out for them, they are human scum!

-
How dare you, sir!

Posted by: Pierre Delecto at October 23, 2019 02:25 PM (+y/Ru)

688
>>JackStraw and I still can't talk about the bailouts in '08 and '09.

693
I've been called a liar, a fraud, a deep state plant and more for actually supporting Trump.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:22 PM (ZLI7S)
+++++++++++++
I haven't seen that, but I'll take your word for it. That's unfortunate. I think you're wrong that there is even a semblance of official justice left in this rotten government and that there are more than trivial number of non-bad actors, but certainly not a liar or a fraud or down with the deep state.

696
And like it or not impeachment has hurt Trump's
approval. It was what Dems were going for and so far they're achieved
their goal. And which is why they will continue with the show for months
to come.

At what point does Trump declare pantyfa and ideally the mainstream media domestic terrorist organizations? His supporters are being beaten at his rallies ... and I blame the mainstream media for radicalizing (as well as normalizing and cheering on) James Hodgkinson as well as BLM, pantyfa, et. al.

Ace was pro-Cruz and anti-Establishment. He wanted the "Influencers" to rally behind Cruz and not blow their wad on weasels like Rubio.

But the "Influencers" didn't do that, and that betrayal hurt. I remember because I was in the Colorado Assembly (what we call the state convention) supporting Cruz. Who was already doomed because of other states' RINO voters splitting their vote.

And then the "Influencers" (including Cruz himself, sadly) flounced off rather than support the nominee whom their arrogance had created. That betrayal was worse.

713Hey anyone see chemJeff latelyHe trolls Reason including being in favour of tranny story hours.

Posted by: andycanuck at October 23, 2019 02:27 PM (Dh1wo)

714
There was also a Jewish guy, CBD?, who was an anti-Semite.
Posted by: t-bird at October 23, 2019 02:25 PM (Y9zp1)

-----

Oh shit. Who was the black guy that got called racist too.?? That was hilarious.

Posted by: fixerupper at October 23, 2019 02:27 PM (8XRCm)

715
A poll is already a predictive model. Making a predictive model based on other people's predictive models is kinda bullshit magical thinking. Might as well average their predictions.
Posted by: Someguy at October 23, 2019 02:26 PM (6GjnW)
+++++++++++
It "works" for climatology...

719641 The Dems are insane, not stupid. They won't run Bloomberg. They're using their field this cycle to soften up the electorate to run Newsome in 2024
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at October 23, 2019 02:20 PM (e/H31)

720
The thing is that now ace will probably throw a pill thread up. And douchebag will act like he's vindicated. And just conveniently ignore that plenty will be critical of the poll post even when ace makes it, and that ace doesn't behave like a whiny bitch to those that voice their criticism.

722
>>I haven't seen that, but I'll take your word for it. That's unfortunate. I think you're wrong that there is even a semblance of official justice left in this rotten government and that there are more than trivial number of non-bad actors, but certainly not a liar or a fraud or down with the deep state.

Did you hear Catherine Herridge's report a few minutes about regarding Italy and Durham?

Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:28 PM (ZLI7S)

723
>>>you continually look for every possible opportunity to say things that are negative about him and his future. Every single piece of bad news you can find, every poll, every comment, everything you can discover that is meant to depress or upset people, you rush to post about.

just like neverscankles!

Posted by: trapper's girl at October 23, 2019 02:28 PM (nC4FN)

724
Don't forget Maddow's proclamation that, oh yes, South Carolina was absolutely in play for Clinton. She was super giddy, smiling and really believed this.
Posted by: Lady in Black - Death to the Man Bun at October 23, 2019 02:21 PM (JoUsr)

The Sweet's Desolation Blvd. (US version!) is the single most under-rated album of the 70s. Every single track is a stone-cold killer. Oh, and they invented glam-metal a decade early while they were at it.

727And like it or not impeachment has hurt Trump's approval. It was what Dems were going for and so far they're achieved their goal. And which is why they will continue with the show for months to come.
Posted by: Lurking Lurker - Not In My Purview at October 23, 2019 02:23 PM (FiUMj)

728
I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate
A poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

Posted by: Old Blue Eyes at October 23, 2019 02:28 PM (+y/Ru)

729505 I've never cared for him either. Apparently he can write a good song when he tries; the Pointer Sisters' "Fire" is his, and he had that good line in "Hungry Heart," "Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack, / I went out for a ride and I never went back."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at October 23, 2019 02:05 PM (ClOmq)

-----

He also wrote "Honey Id drive all night just to buy you a pair of shoes".

731
Holy shit. I hadn't heard about that Amazon thing. I'm not a Catholic, but that is absolute bullshit.

(I still can't believe the "conservative" proposal for LGBTQ stuff in the church won out at the Methodist summit earlier this year. I heard it was due to the last minute eloquent appeals of a group of Liberian bishops. Thank God for them!)

Posted by: Mrs. Peel at October 23, 2019 02:29 PM (wX/xk)

732
Bruce's facial antics while playing for Chuck Berry and for Roy Orbison and while singing in that excrementable We Are The World video turn me right off of him.

Dude, just play and sing. Leave the theatrics behind.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 23, 2019 02:29 PM (q1Pj5)

733at what point does obvious news suppression/manipulation become an election crime?

I don't think its criminal, but its certainly unprofessional and immoral.

734
And then the "Influencers" (including Cruz himself, sadly) flounced off rather than support the nominee whom their arrogance had created. That betrayal was worse.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at October 23, 2019 02:27 PM (ykYG2)
++++++++++++++
Cruz worked for Trump's campaign. I don;t know how enthusiastic it was, but he at least showed up - unlike most of the rest of the field. I was never a Cruz guy, but he is the only one I saw doing anything like holding up his end of the bargain to the RNC.

738
The Sweet's Desolation Blvd. (US version!) is the single most under-rated album of the 70s. Every single track is a stone-cold killer. Oh, and they invented glam-metal a decade early while they were at it.

Do not get the far-inferior UK version.
Posted by: Guy Smiley at October 23, 2019 02:28 PM (1XNk

741"Queen of the Warmongers," "embodiment of corruption" Hillary Clinton tucks tail and cancels appearance at event at which Tulsi Gabbard is also to appear.
Seems like old times, with old Hillary Clinton in the "news" again. Everything old is old again.

Hillary brought with her the wrong Magic: The Gathering deck to go toe to toe with Tulsi.

Only when they have ketchup on them
Posted by: It's me donna at October 23, 2019 02:28 PM (O2RFr)

-----

*twitch*

Posted by: fixerupper at October 23, 2019 02:30 PM (8XRCm)

745
Did you hear Catherine Herridge's report a few minutes about regarding Italy and Durham?
Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:28 PM (ZLI7S)
+++++++++++++
No, I didn't. If we get real indictments against big actors and reorganization of and enforced accountability for the IC, DOJ and State Department, I will happily eat a big 'ole helping of crow on the topic.

746
I haven't seen that, but I'll take your word for it. That's unfortunate. I think you're wrong that there is even a semblance of official justice left in this rotten government and that there are more than trivial number of non-bad actors, but certainly not a liar or a fraud or down with the deep state.

--------

I'll go ahead and say it:

The thoughtful, intelligent and optimistic patriot JackStraw is a goddamned fuckin' Nazi.

748
yeah, i forgot the part when Cruz worked on Trump's campaign. I just remember him wanking onstage at the Convention. He did turn around at least post-2016 being a loyal vote in the Senate, which is more than we can say for Mike Lee.

My answer to these kinds of questions is that food categories are taxonomic hierarchical descriptors with the convention that you use the most specific applicable one. Calling a hotdog a sandwich may technically be true, but it's not a good use of language to refer it that way most of the time. It's like somebody pointing and asking "what kind of animal is that?" and me saying "it's a vertibrate" when it's a German Shepard.

764 694 'Trump's support is cratering' is ludicrous. I worry about a lot of things political; maybe even call myself quite a cynic. Even I think that statement is dumb.
Posted by: Lady in Black - Death to the Man Bun at October 23, 2019 02:25 PM (JoUsr)

My anecdata - amongst my working white trash cohort - shows Trump support and awareness of the Deep State at historic highs, and disdain for both the DNC and GOP turned up to 11.

772
That Medium article in the sidebar on climate has some decent points about politicizing science and what some scientists are actually saying as opposed to what climate hysterics are saying... but its deeply flawed.

He takes the position without any defense that the global warming scaremongering is absolutely true and that only someone who is crazy or stupid would question that. Then he blames the right for not buying into all this, which makes the left able to use it for political gain.

But the left has stated repeatedly (and he quotes a few times) that their goal all along has had nothing to do with science and everything to do with their radical political schemes.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 23, 2019 01:45 PM (KZzsI)

Once you say that the results can not be questioned, you are no longer operating as a science.

The burden of proof may be high, but you can't silence anyone. I've read papers in the conference journals written by near lunatics...but they were printed all the same.

What happens to that number after it's revealed with no doubt whatsoever that Trump was absolutely right, and that everyone else in Washington was absolutely wrong, and that ALL of the whiny "oh Trump has blood on his hands for the genocide" were just totally made up piece of crap lines? That Trump was the ONLY one who could see how to get a completely peaceful solution that saved American lives and cost us nothing?

Only when served on a bun.
On a stick, dipped in cornbread is. . . a state fair snack?

Posted by: Lizzy at October 23, 2019 02:34 PM (bDqIh)

783
"Republicans have struggled to defend Trump on the substance of the allegations against him, and have instead focused on hammering Democrats over what they see as an illegitimate impeachment process."

We are struggling to defend it because it is a little like struggling to defend the fact that the sky is blue, it seems self evident, and if you can't see the truth right in front of you, what else can we possibly say?

Question from the back of the room - what LAW do they think Trump BROKE? Specifically. Cite the statute.

You don't see the leaders of foreign countries setting up meeting for the Attorney General of the United States with members of foreign intelligence agencies to get to the bottom of crimes committed against the United States during a presidential election.

Meg Whitman, ex-HP CEO who ran for governor of California as a Republican in 2010, gave $2,800 to Joe Biden last quarter.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at October 23, 2019 02:35 PM (1Vobx)
+++++++++++
Only because the GOP has fallen so!

794
Once you say that the results can not be questioned, you are no longer operating as a science.

The burden of proof may be high, but you can't silence anyone. I've read papers in the conference journals written by near lunatics...but they were printed all the same.
Posted by: Oldcat at October 23, 2019 02:33 PM (FTPn0)

Once its been shown you have changed data, it is no longer science.

Posted by: Don Q at October 23, 2019 02:36 PM (NgKpN)

795The burden of proof may be high, but you can't silence anyone. I've read papers in the conference journals written by near lunatics...but they were printed all the same.

To me, that's what makes science interesting. OK this guy sounds like a total crank, but let's investigate and see. Like that crazy Pasteur guy who said that people get sick because of tiny little creatures in their blood. WHAT A LOON!

798 The thoughtful, intelligent and optimistic patriot JackStraw is a goddamned fuckin' Nazi.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 23, 2019 02:31 PM (qAM1p)

Sure - if NAZIs were all higher than giraffe pussy, blazing a roll of sticky green fatter than a baby's forearm.

Posted by: Strategy and Tactics at October 23, 2019 02:37 PM (s1IGC)

799
We are struggling to defend it because it is a little like struggling to defend the fact that the sky is blue, it seems self evident, and if you can't see the truth right in front of you, what else can we possibly say?

Question from the back of the room - what LAW do they think Trump BROKE? Specifically. Cite the statute.

--

It's like swinging at a ghost.

Posted by: Lady in Black - Death to the Man Bun at October 23, 2019 02:37 PM (JoUsr)

You don't see the leaders of foreign countries setting up meeting for the Attorney General of the United States with members of foreign intelligence agencies to get to the bottom of crimes committed against the United States during a presidential election.
Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:36 PM (ZLI7S)
++++++++
We sure don't. It's also promising. I don't pretend that there's no good news. But based on the behavior of *our* government for the past who knows how long, I do not expect that it will result in justice. As I said, I would love to be wrong on this topic. I just don't think I am.

805Meg Whitman, ex-HP CEO who ran for governor of California as a Republican in 2010, gave $2,800 to Joe Biden last quarter.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at October 23, 2019 02:35 PM

Maybe it was a mercy contribution.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at October 23, 2019 02:37 PM (DMUuz)

806
No, I didn't. If we get real indictments against big actors and reorganization of and enforced accountability for the IC, DOJ and State Department, I will happily eat a big 'ole helping of crow on the topic.
Posted by: Joe Mannix

Make extra helpings. And save me a plate.

Posted by: rickb223 at October 23, 2019 02:37 PM (ftdxp)

807
To me, that's what makes science interesting. OK this guy sounds like a total crank, but let's investigate and see. Like that crazy Pasteur guy who said that people get sick because of tiny little creatures in their blood. WHAT A LOON!
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 23, 2019 02:36 PM (KZzsI)

Or that crazy Catholic priest who told Einstein that the universe had a beginning.

808
I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but just when did the word "lynch" start to be just applied to black people? Knowing this Horde of miscreants, malefactors, and malcontents who frequent this den of iniquity, I be willing to bet at least someone has a distant relative who was "lynched" for horse thievery in the mid nineteenth century old west.

811
"Justin Trudeau has apparently maintained power without single seat in either Alberta or Saskatchewan, and given how much the East despises the West, the temptation for Justin to hammer Alberta again will be irresistible."

Two new states for US? They only need 50% plus one, they are at 30% secession before the election. I'd welcome them, I think ...

817
(I still can't believe the "conservative" proposal for LGBTQ stuff in the church won out at the Methodist summit earlier this year. I heard it was due to the last minute eloquent appeals of a group of Liberian bishops. Thank God for them!)
Posted by: Mrs. Peel
------

GAH! Last night attended a meeting on the ghey issue in the Methodist Church. Smoke is still curling out of my ears.

I certainly lost the friendship of some fellow church members. I suspect that I'm being unpersoned as we speak.

I am still (and probably will be for the foreseeable future) *very* , uh, upset about the issue. I am losing my church (five generations in the family now) to people who place their emotional 'wants' above the well-being of the church.

The frogboil transmutation from a church of spiritual activism to a church of social activism is well under way. It is at once heartbreaking and infuriating.

What happens in too many marriages when the wife is adamant about something and is subsequently proven wrong?

Meany mean mean Orange Man, who is bad, made them look silly, so they'll find some other fauxtrage to jump up and down about, bouncing their flabby tits (often exposed on camera, to nobody's delight) and saying swears.

Trump has been right about an awful lot these past three years and the pussyhat brigade has never given him credit.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at October 23, 2019 02:38 PM (ykYG2)

820
I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but just when did the word "lynch" start to be just applied to black people?

--

As well as the actual color, black. Insty has a link up today about Bed,Bath and Beyond pulling Halloween jack-o-lanterns that were black in color because someone complained they were rayciss.

Posted by: Lady in Black - Death to the Man Bun at October 23, 2019 02:38 PM (JoUsr)

821
... was just trying to make a stick figure. don't know how people do that.

Posted by: mjc at October 23, 2019 02:38 PM (Pg+x7)

822
If it is already debunked that there was a quid pro quo, and everything else is in secret, what else is there to defend?

823
1) If a pollster asked you if you support for President Trump, would you say yes?

2) Do you enjoy having your head bashed in with a bike-lock?

Posted by: Chris M at October 23, 2019 02:39 PM (eAZVt)

824
I'm not trying to amplify my position, just, facts no brag.I was the first one to not like your Lurking Lurker.

You all don't have to "follow" me, but you do have to get in line.

And whatever you do, don't sign on to his GoFundMe accounts.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at October 23, 2019 02:39 PM (8ZmvG)

825
795 The burden of proof may be high, but you can't silence anyone. I've read papers in the conference journals written by near lunatics...but they were printed all the same.

To me, that's what makes science interesting. OK this guy sounds like a total crank, but let's investigate and see. Like that crazy Pasteur guy who said that people get sick because of tiny little creatures in their blood. WHAT A LOON!

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 23, 2019 02:36 PM (KZzsI)

The problem is that people take anything published as dogma. This to me suggests most things should not be generally circulated.

Posted by: Someguy at October 23, 2019 02:39 PM (6GjnW)

826blazing a roll of sticky green fatter than a baby's forearm.
Posted by: Strategy and Tactics at October 23, 2019 02:37 PM

Not again ...

Posted by: Mrs. Beto at October 23, 2019 02:39 PM (DMUuz)

827
My own hope is they all lead to Brennan, Clapper, Come, Rhodes, Biden and El Commandente Zero.

Really? Going to celebrate with a reenactment of being tossed into the back of an SUV like a side of beef?
Posted by: blake - used pronoun salesman
at October 23, 2019 02:33 PM (qC1Sy)

Nah, she'll repost that self-referential and self-congratulatory younger days photo of herself with a "Happy Birthday to This Future POTUS" item that she did back in the day. It'll be easy for her to find - it bit her on the ass and has clung there for all the intervening years.

837
"they had an emotional impact" is not proof or even evidence of being great cinema. Horror films have an emotional impact (fear). Jackass films had an emotional impact (revulsion and regret for buying a ticket). That does not mean you've made art.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 23, 2019 02:24 PM (KZzsI)

841
The Republicans are "struggling to defend Trump on the substance of the allegations against him," like an NFL defense would be struggling to defend if Tom Brady hopped in a jeep and ran over the defensive line into the endzone and claimed it was a touchdown.

Man, Maryland has quick changing weather. Its now 36% humidity but was 97% early this morning.

Posted by: Serious Cat at October 23, 2019 02:41 PM (Xqo6t)

847
747 Did Ace get lost in this crawlspace?
Posted by: Puddin Head at October 23, 2019 02:31 PM (yRAFu)

Freakin' hobo corpses.

Posted by: joncelli, because somebody had to at October 23, 2019 02:41 PM (RD7QR)

848
>>We sure don't. It's also promising. I don't pretend that there's no good news. But based on the behavior of *our* government for the past who knows how long, I do not expect that it will result in justice. As I said, I would love to be wrong on this topic. I just don't think I am.

I'm not naive enough to think everyone will be satisfied with the outcome. I probably won't satisfied with the outcome.

But it's important to look at the big picture and remember where we are and where we want to go. This country was on a one-way ride to disaster, removed from our founding principles and trading them for corruption, lawlessness and one party rule. We didn't get here overnight, this process has been going on since before even Vic was born.

It's not easy turning around an aircraft carrier and it doesn't happen overnight. But you don't get anywhere without a first step and we are taking huge strides in beginning to turn this around.

Draining the swamp is a process and the process is well underway. Eyes on the prize.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:41 PM (ZLI7S)

849
The frogboil transmutation from a church of spiritual activism to a church of social activism is well under way. It is at once heartbreaking and infuriating.

852
841 The Republicans are "struggling to defend Trump on the substance of the allegations against him," like an NFL defense would be struggling to defend if Tom Brady hopped in a jeep and ran over the defensive line into the endzone and claimed it was a touchdown.
Posted by: joe, living dangerously at October 23, 2019 02:40 PM (KUaJL)

I kind of like that analogy.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at October 23, 2019 02:41 PM (ycWCI)

853
830 Question from the back of the room - what LAW do they think Trump BROKE? Specifically. Cite the statute.
--------
Not being funny but I wouldn't even dignify their bullshit with a serious question. You call it a fucking farce and make them prove it's not.
Posted by: ... at October 23, 2019 02:39 PM (i3YJy)

Fredo Cuomo has already stated the Dem's official line on his show - Impeachment isn't for "real" crimes, Impeachment is for Political Crimes. (seriously, that is what he said)

860
Draining the swamp is a process and the process is well underway. Eyes on the prize.
Posted by: JackStraw at October 23, 2019 02:41 PM (ZLI7S)
+++++++++++
As always, I hope you're right. It looks metastatic to me, but I would welcome my wrongness with open arms.

861
Some guys from that old Jackass show were at this pumpkin festival thing I went to last weekend

jes braggin about all the celebrities I meet

they looked old which is weird b/c I am still young and vibrant

ANYWAY I still want to know if an actual single individual who was the "whistleblower" actually exists or no. am suspicious.

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 23, 2019 02:42 PM (Rarvo)

862
900 comments into a post is when you get the true lower echelon of morons

Posted by: ... at October 23, 2019 02:42 PM (i3YJy)

863
he thoughtful, intelligent and optimistic patriot JackStraw is a goddamned fuckin' Nazi.

.........

Yeah, he's a Nazi. But he's our Nazi; dammit!

Posted by: Archer at October 23, 2019 02:43 PM (gmo/4)

864
808 I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but just when did the word "lynch" start to be just applied to black people? Knowing this Horde of miscreants, malefactors, and malcontents who frequent this den of iniquity, I be willing to bet at least someone has a distant relative who was "lynched" for horse thievery in the mid nineteenth century old west.
Posted by: Old Blue at October 23, 2019 02:37 PM

Recently. During the Kavanaugh crap "high tech lynching" was used and the democrats lost their fucking minds about it just like they're doing again.

866862 900 comments into a post is when you get the true lower echelon of morons

welp then we have some work to do compadre

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 23, 2019 02:43 PM (Rarvo)

867
Dear Congressman Schiff,Allow me to congratulate you on running old style Soviet show trial. I approve! After all, the KGB always always gets its man. Of course said man could not defend himself because KGB would not allow it, but all the same.Keep up the good work!xoxoxoVlad

================================Another way of looking at the report is that the meeting would not have taken place without the concurrence of the Italian Prime Minister. That gives the matter the imprimatur of diplomatic relations between US and Italian government officials. Serious business, as President Trump might say.

Posted by: mrp at October 23, 2019 02:44 PM (Pqytn)

876
>>A friend from CT once told me that at some point in history, it was legal for CT residents to shoot anyone seen crossing the border from RI into CT.

Good plan. Anyone who would leave RI for CT is clearly insane and needs to be put down.

CT isn't a state. It's a highway with a few rest stops. You don't go to CT, you go through CT.

It has become a regular occurrence, these days, for me to point out that 'compromise' is not inherently a good thing. 'Compromise' between good and evil is not a thing to be desired.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 23, 2019 02:44 PM (Y9zp1)

It has become a regular occurrence, these days, for me to point out that 'compromise' is not inherently a good thing. 'Compromise' between good and evil is not a thing to be desired.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 23, 2019 02:44 PM (Y9zp1)

Negotiate when you can , compromise when you have to.
Posted by: Easy Andy at October 23, 2019 02:46 PM (9YKBM)

905
Well I think science would be a lot better off if a few of the sacred cows were questioned more and tested more as well. Things taken for granted and even angrily defended.

They put Louis Pasteur in an insane asylum. For real.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 23, 2019 02:45 PM (KZzsI)

Science advances one funeral at a time. Most innovators are cranks, but most cranks are wrong.

Posted by: Someguy at October 23, 2019 02:47 PM (6GjnW)

906808 I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but just when did the
word "lynch" start to be just applied to black people? Knowing this
Horde of miscreants, malefactors, and malcontents who frequent this den
of iniquity, I be willing to bet at least someone has a distant relative
who was "lynched" for horse thievery in the mid nineteenth century old
west.

Posted by: Old Blue at October 23, 2019 02:37 PM

True story, a great uncle of mine saw a man hanged for being a horse thief. It was in Arkansas and my great uncle was a young boy at the time.

Posted by: Archer at October 23, 2019 02:47 PM (gmo/4)

907
If 88 is the post of Hitler, what does 888 signify?
Posted by: Duncanthrax at October 23, 2019 02:46 PM (DMUuz)
++++++++
Eight Hitlers?

912
The problem with all these leads and investigations is that they are rapidly running out of time. The DOJ can move really really fast when it comes to attacking Trump but when it comes to attacking his enemies, boy suddenly they gotta do more studies and investigate more, and collect more evidence, and this may take a while, we gotta redact things and maybe next year....

917
wait till Christians find out steeples are also phallic symbols ... then Protestants and Catholics can unite ... then they find out half (or more) other strange traditions are also pagan in origin ... then maybe they start reading the Bible again?

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at October 23, 2019 02:48 PM (ZY701) This right here is how gun control has become a thing since the early 1900s.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at October 23, 2019 02:49 PM (N39Ws)

929
Be intentionally nebulous and vague about the crimes committed, use an inability to defend yourself against vague accusations as proof of guilt.
Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at October 23, 2019 02:45 PM (ZY701)

Jesus was antisemitic (see the violent outburst at the Jewish temple), he slut-shamed the Samaritan woman at the well, and quite possibly a fascist, since he advocated giving to Caesar what was Caesar's.

952
"It is clear, that all these GOP Congressmen that stormed the Impeachment investigation hearings are Russian Assets."

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at October 23, 2019 03:03 PM (+oR7L)

953
So, it's a secure hyper secret room where the fucking Dems immediately leave and tell the press what they claim was said by the super secret witnesses.

Posted by: ejochs at October 23, 2019 03:04 PM (lSFMQ)

954
The burden of proof may be high, but you can't silence anyone. I've read papers in the conference journals written by near lunatics...but they were printed all the same.

To me, that's what makes science interesting. OK this guy sounds like a total crank, but let's investigate and see. Like that crazy Pasteur guy who said that people get sick because of tiny little creatures in their blood. WHAT A LOON!

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 23, 2019 02:36 PM (KZzsI)

The problem is that people take anything published as dogma. This to me suggests most things should not be generally circulated.
Posted by: Someguy at October 23, 2019 02:39 PM (6GjnW)

The proceedings of the meetings of the Astronomical Association qualify as "not generally circulated".

To bad for the theory of "Zig Zag and Swirl" which said that everything was falling, but then they would jiggle to the side a bit. I even got a free copy of the guy's book by writing him.

The problem with gatekeeping is who chooses the gatekeepers?

The creeping death in Science of this started with the gatekeeping of the finding lobbies in Global Warming, and is not creeping in more and more fields.

Posted by: Oldcat at October 23, 2019 03:06 PM (FTPn0)

955
Senators Hawley and Blackburn have introduced legislation to move 90% of personnel from 10 federal departments out of DC.